Day 1
Arrive in Lima
Upon arrival in Lima, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in the exclusive bairrio of San Isidro, where you’ll enjoy a Welcome Reception this evening to meet your travel director and fellow adventurers.
Food included at the evening Welcome Reception.
Overnight: Novotel Lima or similar
Day 2
Lima Sightseeing
Today will be spent exploring the sights of this beautiful city; admire the colonial heritage and splendour of Francisco Pizzaro’s ‘City of Kings’ in the city’s UNESCO-listed historic centre, discover the Church of San Francisco and its hidden catacombs, and celebrate Lima’s status as the ‘Culinary Capital of South America’ as you meet with Ignacio Barrios, who has worked alongside many of Peru’s finest award-winning chefs. You’ll visit a local market where Ignacio will explain how Peruvian fruits, vegetables, seafood and meats are the basis of the nation’s cooking, and then continue to the cooking school to enjoy a demonstration of how to prepare some of Peru’s most popular demonstrations, before sampling them at a Be My Guest Lunch. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Optional Excursions:
La Dama Juana Restaurant and Folklore Show – This restaurant combines traditional Peruvian cuisine with fun folklore dancing to create a vibrant night to remember. The food is presented in a buffet-style with clay pots, and as you dine, you can watch the energetic dancers perform colonial and Inca ceremonial dances.
Magic Circuit of the Water – Visit the world’s largest fountain complex, featuring beautiful interactive fountains with swaying water, coloured lights and lasers dancing with the music. The ‘Magic Fountain’ forces water to a height of more than 80 metres; this optional experience is available Wednesday to Sunday.
Breakfast and Lunch included.
Overnight: Novotel Lima or similar
Day 3
Lima – Cusco – Sacred Valley
You’ll leave the coastal capital today as you board a morning flight to Cusco. Visit Awanakancha to learn about how your visit makes a difference to this living museum, which provides sanctuary to llamas, alpacas and vicunas, and how it preserves traditional weaving techniques. Enjoy a picnic lunch before visiting the Pisac market, where local Quechua people come to sell their product and handicrafts; stroll past the colourful stalls, sip a cup of cocoa tea and acclimate to the incredibly high altitude.
Later in the afternoon, you’ll arrive at a former 18th-century colonial-style monastery set in the heart of Sacred Valley, which will be your hotel for the night. Meet with the Nilda Callanaupa Alvarez, who will share ancient Andean weaving techniques with you, before enjoying dinner at the hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
Overnight: Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay or similar
Day 4
Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu
The mystical empire of the Incas takes centre stage today as you visit the famous Sacred Valley stronghold of Ollantaytambo, before boarding the Vistadome train for an incredible journey to Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Delve into the mysteries of this once-great civilisation, admiring the 15th Century stone ruins of temples, palaces and terraces perched high amidst the clouds.
Join your local specialist for an exploration of the iconic great Temple of the Sun, the House of the Priest, the Sacred Plaza and the Intihuatana – an intricately carved rock, most likely used as a sundial centuries ago. Return to your hotel in the evening for dinner.
Breakfast, Light Snacks on the Train and Dinner included.
Overnight: El Mapi by Inkaterra or similar
Day 5
Machu Picchu – Cusco
You’ll have another opportunity to explore the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu this morning, and if you’re feeling adventurous, you could hike up to the Gate of the Sun for stunning sunrise views over the fortress. Later, board a train to the Sacred Valley, and then head to the colonial city of Cusco, stopping en route at a local Chicheria, where you will enjoy the sweet flavours of chicha as you learn how this Peruvian corn beer is brewed by the local women.
Optional Excursions:
Visit and Workshop at the Choco Museum – Learn about the process of creating Peruvian chocolate from the cacao bean to the chocolate bar; you will also participate in making some chocolate too.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Novotel Cusco or similar
Day 6
Cusco Sightseeing
Embark on a fantastic sightseeing tour of Cusco this morning, admiring the 16th century Spanish colonial buildings that stand on the foundations of former Inca temples and palaces. See the baroque Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas, and the 17th century Church of Santo Domingo. Visit the ruins of the Sacsayhuaman Fortress and the nearby warehouses where the Incas once stored their grain. The afternoon is free to explore at leisure, and in the evening you will gather with the group for a regional meal at a local restaurant, tucking into delicious Cusquenian dishes and enjoying ancestral dance performances.
Optional Excursions:
Mooray and Moras – Visit Moray, the Inca agricultural greenhouse/laboratory which consists of four platforms that seem to disappear into a crater. At a depth of 150 metres, the overlapping concentric circular stone rings widen as they rise. It was an experimental location that the Incas used to study the adaptation of plants with agriculture. Next, you’ll visit the village of Maras, renowned for its ancient salt mines and wells. Meet with the villagers, who explain ancient salt mining techniques and offer the chance for you to participate.
Picuillacta Ruins and Andahuaylillas Church – Visit a 17th Century Piquillacta, a pre-Incan citadel built by the Wari people, featuring an elusive history and bizarre architecture. Afterwards, you’ll head to Andahuaylillas to see San Pedro Church, a perfect example of Peru’s colonial architecture.
Breakfast and Dinner included.
Overnight: Novotel Cusco or similar
Day 7
Cusco – Lima
It’s a leisurely start to the day with a morning to explore your favourite parts of Cusco before catching a flight back to Lima in the afternoon. Meet with a local specialist and curator at the Larco Museum, which houses the largest private collection of pre-Columbian art in the world. This evening, you’ll join your group for a Farewell Dinner in the museum’s garden restaurant.
Breakfast and Dinner included.
Overnight: Novotel Lima or similar
Day 8
Depart Lima
Your incredible discovery of an ancient civilisation draws to an end today. Transfer to the airport for your onward flight, or perhaps extend your stay at the Novotel Lima.
Breakfast included.
